One-piece molded plastic overcap and valve actuator for aerosol containers



United States Patent [72] inventor Frank Venus, Jr. [56] ReferencesCited Watemwn, Connecticut UNITED STATES PATENTS 2; 3 13 3,223,28712/1965 Sagarin 222/402.13x 1 r 3,231,142 1/l966 McGhie 613]. 222/40213[45] Patented Nov. 10, 1970 73] Assi me The Risdon Manufactufln Com an3,250,436 5/1966 Kurtz 222/ 153 I g N t k C t g P y 3,367,540 2 1968Lehmann 222/541x 3,373,908 3/1968 Crowell 2-22/40213 a corporation ofConnecticut Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves AssistantExaminerFrederick R. Handren Attorney-Steward and Steward, Merrill F.Steward and s4 ONE-PIECE MOLDED PLASTIC OVERCAP AND Dmald Steward VALVEACTUATOR FOR AEROSOL CONTAINERS 1 ClaimJDrawing Figs ABSTRACT: Anactuator-overcap assembly for an aerosol [52] US. Cl. 222/153, dispenserin which the overcap and actuator portions of the 222/402. 1 3 assemblyare initially molded as an integral part but which are [51] Int. Cl 865d83/14 adapted to be severed, when a consumer wishes to operate the [50]Field of Search 222/153, actuator to get dispensing of the aerosolproduct, by pulling a 402.l3,541,402.ll

tear strip temporarily joining the cap and actuator.

Patented Nov. 10, 1970 Sheet ATTORNEY) Patented Nov. 10, 1970 INVENTORm4 NA van/us, JR.

T'TORNEYS ONE-PIECE MOLDED PLASTIC OVERCAP AND VALVE ACTUATOR FORAEROSOL CONTAINERS This invention pertains to valved fluid dispensingcontainers of the selfpressurized or aerosol type, and more particularlyto an overcap and valve actuator assembly for such containers.

The packaging in aerosol dispensers of various fluid products has gainedwide acceptance in the consumer trade, owing largely to the convenienceof dispensing afforded thereby, the prevention of product deteriorationand other advantages. These aerosol packages employ containers, such asthe conventional crown-top can, in which a valve unit is mounted in thecrown end of the container through which the product is dispensed uponactuation of the valve by the consumer. Others employ glass or plasticcontainers with valve units similarly incorporated in them. The typicalvalve unit includes a protruding hollow stem through which the productin the container is actually dispensed upon depression or tilting thestem to open the valve. An actuator button connected to the valve stemand providing a duct for delivering the product in a controlled form,for example as a spray, foam or solid stream, is conventionally employedto facilitate operation of the valve and to orient the direction offluid discharge.

It is a primary purpose of this invention to provide an improved valveactuating button and protective overcap assembly constituting anintegral unit for attachment to the valved end of an aerosol containerand facilitating the operation of the valve therein. The overcap memberof the novel assembly is designed to frictionally or otherwisedetachably engage the valved end of the aerosol container and serves toprotect the actuating button against accidental operation whilepermitting immediate and ready access thereto without removal of the capwhen dispensing of the product is desired. It is a further purpose ofthe invention to provide an actuator button and overcap assembly whichconstitutes initially an integral structure that can be supplied to theaerosolmanufacturer or loading plant for attachment to the aerosolcontainer as a one-piece assembly. The purpose of having a one-pieceassembly insteadof separate cap and actuator members is to reduce thenumber of operations required to complete the assembly of the finishedaerosol package.

One-piece actuator-overcap assemblies for aerosol containers are notbroadly new. But a significant feature of the presently disclosedovercap-actuator assembly resides in the fact that the cap and actuatorare so formed integrally, preferably of molded plastic, that'thcactuator button constitutes at least a portion of an end wall of theovercap and is immovable relative thereto as molded and as assembled .toan aerosol container. In order to permit the actuator buttonsubsequently to be operable independently of the overcap when thecustomer wishes to dispense product from the container, the button isjoined to the cap by a tear strip constituting a temporary bridgingconnection between the two members. The tear strip is defined by linesof weakened areas or reduced thickness in the material of which theactuator-overcap is formed. This tear strip is provided with a terminalor projecting tab portion to furnish a means for gripping and tearingthe strip from around the periphery of the actuator button and therebyseparating it from the overcap portion, whereby the two then compriseseparate, independent but cooperating members. The purposes of thisarrangement are manifold. First of all it of course maintains thedesired unitary structure of the overcap actuator button for easiermolding and subsequent assembly to the dispensing container, asmentioned above. The arrangement also serves the purposes of resistingaccidental actuation of the valve assembly and inadvertent dispensing ofthe product therefrom after assembly to the container and during storageand display. Furthermore it serves as an indicator to the purchaser thatthe package is intact and has not been tampered with or partiallyconsumed. When the purchaser wishes to use the dispenser for the firsttime. he merely grasps the finger tab provided on the tear strip andrips the strip from about the periphery of the actuator button. The

I and actuator assembly of the invention, parts being broken away forgreater clarity of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the overcap and actuator assembly seen inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary view of a portion of the tearstrip connecting the actuator to the overcap;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view in side elevation taken on line 4-4 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view in side elevation taken on line 5-5 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view in side elevation showing a modifiedform of tear strip connecting the actuator and overcap; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view in side elevation taken on the otherside of the actuator in the embodiment shown in F 1G. 6.

- In FIG. I of the drawings a conventional aerosol container 10 is shownin which a valve unit I2 is mounted by crimping it into an aperture ofan end wall, in conventional manner. A tubular valve stem l4 projectsfrom unit 12 to serve as means for opening the valve, either by axial orlateral motion of the stem, to allow discharge of the contents ofcontainer I0 through the stem. Container 10 is provided with an overcapI6 and actuating button 18 embodying the present invention andconstituting a closure for the valved end of the container. Preferablythe overcap and actuator button are molded of polyethylene or similarhigh strength plastic and the particular device illustrated isespecially designed to be formed of such material. The cap and actuatorportions I6, 13, respectively are integrally formed initially, as willbe further described presently.

, Overcap 16 has a cylindrical peripheral side wall 20 formingessentially a continuation of the side wall of container 10 whensuperimposed upon the valved end of the container as illustrated. At itsopen end the cap has a rib I7 which grips the container (see FIGS. 1, 4and 5) to hold the cap in place. Cap 16 is closed at its upper end by atransverse wall formed of oppositely disposed segmental portions 22a,22a. which are essentially fiat, and by a complementary rcarwardlysloping portion 221;. The balance of the end wall of cup to is formed bythe actuating button I8 which, as already mentioned, is moldedintegrally with the cap. At a point in the periphery of cap 16diametrically opposed to rear wall 22!), side wall 20 is cut away toform a recess M.

As seen in plan in FIG. 2 actuator I8 is of generally truncatedarrowhead shape and its blunted nose is received in recess 24 andprojects slightly beyond the side walls of the cap and container.Actuator Id is provided with an external central boss or domedprotuberance 26 which serves generally as a finger pad indicating thepoint at which pressure is to be applied by the user to effectdispensing of the contents of the container. With reference to FIGS. 4and 5, the actuator has a centrally located hub on its underside whichextends inwardly a short distance into the cap, and this hub has asocket 30 for the reception therein of valve stem I4. Actuator i8 isalso provided with an internal fluid passage 32 and a discharge orificeor outlet 34 which is communicated with the socket by the aforesaidpassage.

Actuator I8 is separated along its rear edge from the adjacent rear wall22b by a narrow slot 36, but is integrally connected at opposite sidesto end portions 22a, where those portions and the actuator arecontiguous, by a tear strip designated generally at 40 in the drawings.As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the tear strip assembly includes a central ribM which runs along either side of actuator lb between the actuator andthe respective end walls 22a. Integral bridging elements 44 in spaced,staggered arrangement along opposite sides of rib 42 join the rib to therespective contiguous end wall and actuator portions. At the forward ordischarge end of the actuator, the bridging elements 44 are discontinuedand the central ribs 42 extend forwardly free of the actuator andovercap to join an interconnecting tab 46 disposed at the nose of theactuator and spaced slightly therefrom. v

The tear strip is removed, to sever actuator 18 from the overcap 16 whenthe customer is ready to use the aerosol package, by pulling upwardlyand rearwardly on tab 46 to rupture the thin bridging members 44,thereby freeing the actuator from the overcap.

A modified form of tear strip is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings.in this illustration, tear strip 140 again consists of a central rib 142which is joined to the respectively adjacent actuator and overcap endwall portions 118, 122a, respectively, by very thin, imperforate finlikebridging members 144. These fin members 144 are ruptured in a mannersimilar to that described above for the previous embodiment when thetear tab is stripped from the assembly I claim:

1. A one-piece molded plastic overcap and valve actuator button assemblyfor a pressurized dispenser having a valved outlet for dispensing afluid product therefrom,

said overcap comprising a cylindrical member having an open end andmeans thereat for attachment to a dispenser to enclose the valved outletthereof; a

said actuator button being formed in said overcap to constitute anintegral part of at least a portion of an end wall therein spaced fromthe open end of said overcap; said actuator button being of roughlytruncated arrowhead shape in plan and said discharge orifice beinglocated in the truncated nose thereof, said actuator being separatedfrom said overcap along its rear edge by a narrow slot and being joinedalong its opposite sides to said overcap by a tear strip, said tearstrip comprising an elongated central rib portion bounded along eachside by parallel weakened margins of the material of which said actuatorand cap are formed and said tear strip having a projecting tab portionintegral with said rib portion and extending outwardly therefromiat thetruncated nose of said actuator to provide a finger grip;

said actuator having a hub extending inwardly of said oven cap andhaving a socket formed therein for connection to the valved outlet ofthe dispenser; said actuator button also having an internal fluidpassage connecting the intorior of said socket with said dischargeorifice.

